Page 123 of Downpour

She baked with my mom. She babysat my littlest niece and hung out with Bree and Gracie so their parents could go out on dates. But she had made herself most at home with the animals.

I was half-convinced she was one of those movie princesses who could make birds and mice sew dresses for her. The horses and cows seemed to like her. Even that asshole barn cat had come around and would weave between her ankles when she came and went.

I loved how easily she assimilated into ranch life. Into my life.

The smell of shellfish and spices wafted out of the main house as we parked. Most of the family was already seated at the long table. It had been covered with newspaper instead of a tablecloth.

The mountain of potatoes, corn, sausage, and crawdads made my mouth water.

“Alright, y’all. Lowcountry boil tonight,” Momma said as she wiped her hands on a towel. “Pull up a chair and get to eating. I didn’t make all this food for y’all to look at it all night.”

Brooke went to move one of the kitchen chairs out of the way for me, but I caught her hand.

“That’s alright, baby. I’ll just sit there tonight.”

Her lips parted in surprise, but she kept her tone quiet. “You sure?”

Christian and his brood spilled through the door, fashionably late.

I cupped my hands behind my left knee and lifted it off the footrest and onto the ground.

Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing as I repeated the process with my right leg. Brooke slid her hand into mine as I slowly rose to my feet and held onto her for balance.

A pin dropping would have sounded like a gunshot as I shuffled toward the table.

I lost my balance the moment I was within arm’s reach of the table. I grabbed the edge and refused to let go. Brooke lifted our clasped hands a little higher to give me leverage to slowly lower into the chair rather than dropping like a sack of potatoes.

“And there’s my workout for the day,” I said when I was seated. I pulled the chair out beside me for Brooke. “Let’s eat.”

She pushed my wheelchair aside and sat down next to me.

Nate looked at me as if I’d just walked on water. “So, are we just going to ignore what just happened?”

“I’m hungry.” I glanced at Brooke, who was fighting back a smile. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Fine. Stuff your faces. But get ready to talk with your mouth full,” CJ said as he reached into the pile of food on the table. “Because what the hell was that? How long have you been able to fucking walk, dude?”

“Watch your language, Carson James,” mom scolded, tears welling up in her eyes. She pointed her spatula at me. “You have some explaining to do, young man.”

“I’ve been working on it in physical therapy.”

“For how long?!” Christian shouted.

Everyone fell silent.

Cassandra’s jaw dropped. “Did you just raise your voice? I think that’s more shocking than Ray walking.”

I filled up my paper plate with potatoes, crawdads, and corn. Brooke grabbed some crawdads, corn, and sausage.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” I said. “I can shuffle a few feet and that’s it.”

Bree settled into the chair next to Brooke. “So that means you still need to use your wheelchair?”

Brooke chimed in since my mouth was full. “It’s called being an ambulatory wheelchair user. But Ray is still considered paraplegic.”

I gave her thigh a grateful squeeze.

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